Medication Errors

Our attorneys have successfully handled cases on behalf of clients who
were injured after a doctor, nurse or pharmacist failed to take proper
care when prescribing, administering or dispensing medication. When
drugs are prescribed and dispensed, these healthcare professionals must
take certain steps to ensure the patient receives the correct dosage and
type of drug.

Although many assume the medication they are prescribed
will have its intended effect, prescription drugs can, in some
cases, put a patient’s
well-being at risk. When a doctor, nurse or pharmacist acts negligently,
and a patient is injured as a result, they may be liable for damages
related to the medication error, such as medical expenses and lost
wages.

At Morgan & Morgan, the medical malpractice attorneys in our Florida
offices have decades of experience helping patients who were injured due
to medication errors receive compensation for losses. If you or a
loved one has been injured due to a medication error, fill out our free
case evaluation form to find out if our medical
malpractice lawyers may be able to help you.

How can an Attorney Help me?

At Morgan & Morgan, our attorneys have access to doctors and nurses
who have years of experience administering and prescribing medication in
hospitals and other medical facilities. These healthcare professionals
can help us determine the cause of your medication error. If our
attorneys find that your doctor or pharmacist was negligent (i.e.
supplied an incorrect dosage, failed to read your medical chart), we may
be able to help you seek legal recourse to collect compensation for
damages.

Causes of Medication Errors

In some cases, medication errors can be caused by the negligence of the
prescribing doctor, nurse, or pharmacy. Negligence claims may stem
from poor oral or written communications, carelessness, system errors,
understaffing, work overload, and ineffective precautionary measures.
Medication mistakes can be serious, as they may deprive patients of
necessary medication or put them at risk for an adverse reaction to an
unintended drug or an overdose due to incorrect dosing.

A doctor, staff, or pharmacist may be considered negligent if they:

Carelessly prescribe the wrong medication

Give a patient the wrong dosage, unintentionally

Give a patient an unintended medication

Fail to take a history of the patient’s prescription drug use

Fail to warn of all risks associated with the medication

Dangerously mixed different prescription drugs

Negligence and Medication Error Lawsuits

When a patient suffers an injury as a result of a medication error, they
may have the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit; however, not
every complication or medical mistake warrants legal action. Negligence
must be directly responsible for the injury for a malpractice claim to
be valid. In a negligence claim, the plaintiff will have to prove the
following:

Duty of Care: Healthcare providers have an obligation
to their patients to act in the way the medical profession would require
of a qualified doctor in similar circumstances. The duty of care applies
to physicians and healthcare providers in all specialties and acts as a
contractual relationship between the patient and medical professional.
In regard to prescribing medications, it is the healthcare provider’s
duty to be aware of the patient’s allergies or other medications they
may be taking.

Breach of Duty: When a healthcare provider fails to
perform up to the required standard of medical care, resulting in
further injury or sickness, they can be found liable for breaching their
duty. Should a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or pharmacist, fail
to inquire about the patient’s medical history, allergies, or other
prescriptions, they may be found liable for any harm caused by this
oversight.

Causation: The medical professional’s negligence must have been
directly responsible for the injury. Prescribing or filling the wrong
medication in and of itself does not constitute malpractice.

Damages: The injury must have caused either economic or emotional
damage. Economic damages may include medical bills or lost wages.
Patients who suffer long-lasting physical injuries may be able to
receive non-economic compensation for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a medication error, you may be
entitled to compensation. To understand how our medication medical
malpractice attorneys may be able to help, fill out our free case evaluation
form.